How to take care of a sunburn

Between picnics and the pool, there’s a good chance many people will overdo it in the sun this summer and end up with a burn.

Erinn Hutkin

Between picnics and the pool, there’s a good chance many people will overdo it in the sun this summer and end up with a burn.

In fact, according to skincancer.org, 42 percent of people in a Skin Cancer Foundation poll admitted to getting sunburned at least once each year.

Even though it can take 12 to 24 hours to realize the extent of a burn, once your skin is scorched, there’s no instant fix. It typically takes several days for skin to start healing, according to the Mayo Clinic’s website.

Spending too much time in the sun can hurt, but there are ways to relieve sunburn and take care of your skin.

Keep cool. According to Dr. Nilam Amin at the Nima Skin Institute in Chicago, immediate care means getting out of the sun and covering exposed skin. To relieve the discomfort that sunburn can cause, Amin suggests keeping the skin cool and irritant-free by:

• Taking an anti-inflammatory medicine such as Advil, Aleve or Motrin.
• Placing a cool compress on the burned skin, or taking a cool bath.
• Using aloe-based products on the skin, which can be soothing.
• Wearing loose clothing that doesn’t touch or rub sunburned skin.

Be kind to blisters and peeling skin. Dr. Lawrence E. Gibson, a professor of dermatology at Mayo Medical School, writes on the Mayo Clinic’s website that blisters that form after a sunburn shouldn’t be broken. He said doing so slows healing and increases infection risk.

Blisters should be lightly covered with gauze, if necessary. As for peeling, which typically happens a few days after a sunburn, Gibson said it’s the body’s way of shedding its outermost layer of damaged skin. Peeling skin should be treated with moisturizing cream.

Seek medical attention if necessary. Amin said if a sunburn is severe, medical treatments may be needed. Treatment could include stronger pain medications or an oral steroid, or if a severe sunburn is accompanied by dehydration, IV fluids may be administered and hospital care might be necessary.

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Don't get burned

When it comes to preventing a sunburn, the most foolproof method is avoiding the rays, but that’s not entirely practical. Instead, Dr. Nilam Amin at the Nima Skin Institute in Chicago offers the following suggestions.

• Wear sun-protective clothing such as long sleeves, long pants, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses.
• Opt for a broad spectrum sunscreen (one that blocks UVA as well as UVB rays) that has a SPF of 30 or higher. Also, Amin said, don’t forget to protect your ears and lips. Many lip balms contain SPF, so buy one and apply it liberally.
• When you’re outdoors, reapply sunscreen, especially after water exposure and even if you’re wearing waterproof or sweatproof sunblock.
• Avoid the sun when rays are strongest, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Avoid excessive alcohol intake. Not only does this cause dehydration, but it can make you less aware and lead to too much sun exposure.
• Some medications can make the skin more sensitive to the sun. Be aware if you are on a photosensitizing drug.

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